Ed DoveJul 2, 2026, 02:27 AM ETCloseEd Dove is a writer and scout who has a deep and enduring passion for African sport, politics and literature. Instagram: @EddyDove22, Facebook: @EddyDoveAfrica

UNITED STATES -- Nine of the ten African teams who qualified for the 2026 World Cup have progressed to the knockout stages, with over 28 percent of the teams still standing in the tournament coming from the African continent.

While each have overcome obstacles to reach the knockouts, which of them can extend their impressive runs to date by advancing to the last 16?

Here are my predictions for each of the nine Round of 32 ties involving African teams.

Prediction: Senegal - WRONG! (So very nearly correct...)

Algeria have bounced back impressively following their opening humbling by Argentina, riding out an early tournament setback to catch the eye with their technical qualities, attacking cutting edge and outstanding wing play.

They boast more natural flair than the Swiss, are more tenacious, and should be able to carve out their fair share of chances. Switzerland are efficient, and always competent in a knockout scenario, but Algeria's rousing 3-3 draw with Austria will give them confidence that they can go toe to toe with mid-weight European opponents and hold their own.

With the likes of Riyad Mahrez, Ibrahim Maza and Rafik Belghali in outstanding form, I'm tipping Algeria to have the quality to down Switzerland.

Having qualified for the knockout stages for the first time ever, Egypt will clearly fancy their chances of progressing to the Last 16.

They've been far more compelling offensively than I'd expected during this tournament - and that we've seen from the Pharaohs at a major tournament for decades.

Mohamed Salah has been enjoying himself with some confident, talented players around him, although a slight hamstring injury makes him a doubt for the next round - which is obviously a massive concern for the North Africans.

Australia are resilient, and will really challenge the Pharaohs physically, but Egypt's technical superiority should carry the day.

Cape Verde have been the darlings of the World Cup so far, and advancing out of their group undefeated, eliminating Uruguay and Saudi Arabia in the process, is an outstanding achievement for the third smallest nation ever to feature at the tournament.

Vozinha became the viral sensation of the competition when he denied a star-studded Spain side in the islanders' opener - pulling off seven saves - but surely the fairytale comes to an end against the reigning champions and Lionel Messi in Miami.

Cape Verde will defend bravely, and can threaten on the counter, but Argentina surely can't come unstuck against the World Cup debutants...can they?!

The Ghanaian contingent were generally happy - at the conclusion of the Group K matches - to be facing Colombia rather than Portugal in the Last 32, but is it truly a draw that plays into the Black Stars' hands?

Ghana were at their best against England, when the dynamic of the game was clear, and they were able to stick to a clear mission - defending aggressively and attacking on the counter. Against Croatia, a lesser team, the contest was more balanced, the Black Stars saw more of the ball, but appeared more vulnerable in transition.

Colombia risk being more similar to their final group game, with the South Americans possessing genuine pace and technical quality in the final third.

Ghana remain capable of upsetting Los Cafeteros, but ideally need to strike first, and certainly need to take their chances.

Source: https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/49204443/african-teams-2026-fifa-world-cup-round-32-ed-dove-predictions